By the book: Do police officers target sports cars for tickets?

BY THE BOOK

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, April 27, 2006

I would like to have a sports car, but my wife is convinced that police officers target drivers with sporty cars when writing speeding tickets.

Is it true that officers target certain cars because of the make and model or possibly even the color?

Randy, Houston

A: There are many who believe that and many others who would want you to believe that.

It is a fact that drivers who operate sport cars get more tickets than other drivers, but it has nothing to do with the make and model of the vehicle or even the color.

Those who buy a car because it will exceed 160 mph or because it will go from 0 to 100 mph in less than 8 seconds are probably at a greater risk of getting a speeding ticket than those drivers who bought their car based on gas mileage or comfort.

Most speeding tickets are issued as a result of radar, which cannot distinguish the color or type of vehicle.

So, get your sports car and you'll be fine, unless you try to see if it really will go as fast as the salesman said it would.

Copeland is a member of the Houston Police Department's Major Offenders Division. Send questions to Stephen.Copeland@cityofhouston.net or mail them to:Sgt. Steve Copeland Houston Police Department Major Offenders Division, 8th Floor Houston, TX 77002